Brief
Pneumonia affects approximately 450 million people globally per year, seven percent of population, and results in about 4 million deaths, mostly in third-world countries.
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that is caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. It is characterized primarily by inflammation of the alveoli in the lungs or by alveoli that are filled with fluid (alveoli are microscopic sacs in the lungs that absorb oxygen). At times a very serious condition, pneumonia can make a person very sick or even cause death. Although the disease can occur in young and healthy people, it is most dangerous for older adults, babies, and people with other diseases or impaired immune systems.
Causes
Bacteria and viruses are the primary causes of pneumonia. When a person breathes pneumonia-causing germs into his lungs and his body’s immune system cannot otherwise prevent entry, the organisms settle in small air sacs called alveoli and continue multiplying. As the body sends white blood cells to attack the infection, the sacs become filed with fluid and pus – causing pneumonia.
Pneumonia has bacterial, viral, fungal, and other primary causes.
Symptoms
Symptoms of pneumonia caused by bacteria usually come on more quickly than pneumonia caused by virus. Elderly persons and small children may actually have fewer or more mild symptoms than expected for such high risk groups.
Most people with pneumonia begin with cold and flu symptoms and then develop a high fever, chills, and cough with sputum.
Although symptoms may vary greatly depending on other underlying conditions, common symptoms include:
- Cough
- Rusty or green mucus (sputum) coughed up from lungs
- Fever
- Fast breathing and shortness of breath Shaking chills Chest pain that usually worsens when taking a deep breath (pleuritic pain)
- Fast heartbeat
- Fatigue and feeling very weak
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Sweating
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Confusion or delirium
- Dusky or purplish skin color (cyanosis) from poorly oxygenated blood
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I was the victim of h-pylori for long time but when I visited health solutions, lm better off because I am still on medication, today is day seven (7) after taking medicine but I feel i was born yesterday thanks health solutions because you are real solutions to people. Sister Irene i can’t forget you for contributing to return back my happiness for connecting me with health solutions, mungu awabariki.
